Court petition challenges 251-home Pebble Creek plan

Save Pebble Creek Inc. filed a petition on Oct. 21 asking a circuit judge to overturn Hillsborough County's approval of a 251-home development on the former Pebble Creek Golf Club. The petition, submitted by attorney Dave Winker and eight residents, seeks a writ of certiorari to review whether the county followed proper procedure during the Sept. 22 vote. It was e-filed at 10:22 p.m., one day before the 30-day deadline expired.

The dispute centers on communications between Bill Place, the golf club owner, and county commissioners. Place, who has attempted to rezone the 150-acre property for five years, told Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda in an April 7 email that he would "love to drop a check by" to support her reelection. Cepeda replied that she would be grateful for his support. Winker argues these ex parte communications, which occurred outside public hearings and were not fully disclosed, poison the process.

The county board voted 5-2 to allow GL Homes to build the single-family homes on the course located off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The petition contends the county treated a single line from Place as the only relevant communication, ignoring the full exchange with Cepeda. It also cites a March 30 email where Place thanked Commissioner Josh Wostal for returning a call and call logs showing a 17-minute conversation associated with Commissioner Chris Boles' office in late March.

Winker notes that the petition concedes the records show the contacts but not the discussions. He cites the Jennings v. Dade County case, which presumes such contacts are prejudicial unless proven otherwise. He expressed surprise that commissioners did not simply disclose the contacts and affirm their impartiality. The petition further argues that residents were denied a meaningful chance to challenge these communications because the county limited the scope of the July 20 rehearing.

GL Homes attorney Jake Cremer told commissioners that the communications did not affect the evidence and that opponents had a chance to raise them at the July remand hearing. Assistant County Attorney Cameron Clark recommended approval to comply with an earlier circuit court ruling that had overturned the county's initial denial of the project. Cremer did not reply to a request for comment.

Local reactions are divided. Leslie Green, president of the Pebble Creek Village HOA, said the community deserves a fair process. Iris Vitelli, president of the larger Pebble Creek HOA, noted that the board stayed neutral for years but that sentiment has shifted as the property condition declined. She said many residents are now concerned about the long vacancy and the gated community plans. "As soon as I saw the attorney step up, I knew it wasn't over," Vitelli said.